The artwork titled “Second Allegory” was created by the artist Ben Shahn in 1953. It belongs to the Expressionism art movement and is an allegorical painting.
The artwork presents a striking composition, emphasizing vibrant hues of red, orange, and blue. At the center of the piece, swirling white lines form an intricate, almost chaotic pattern, suggestive of abstract human or vegetal forms in motion. In contrast, red geometric structures on the right side provide a sense of order amidst the surrounding chaos. At the bottom, a figure lies on the ground, partially concealed by an enigmatic gesture of hands covering part of the face, evoking a sense of contemplation or distress. The deliberate contrast between the chaotic and organized elements within the artwork poignantly captures the essence of an allegory, where deeper, symbolic meanings are embedded in the visual narrative.